The Super-Rich: 5 Multi-Millionaires Explain Why They Keep Working

Income inequality is now at its highest levels since the Great Depression, and as this gap has grown, so have our fantasies of the idle rich, from the Kardashians to "Real Housewives." But many of the mega-rich have gotten mega-richer, with no plans to quit for a life of gentle tanning.

Writing for Forbes, Larissa Faw examines why some people continue to work, despite having enough money to spend the rest of their days sailing the Aegean, and hiring tiny fish to nibble at their feet. But from their own mouths, here are why five high-rolling individuals keep their noses to their golden grindstones:

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Despite four decades of chairing or CEO-ing media companies, Alan Meckler, 65, has no plans to quit. Now CEO of media empire WebMediaBrands, and with a net worth of over $400 million, according to Forbes, why does one of the most successful media entrepreneurs of all time keep doing another day, another dollar?

He told Forbes it's "for posterity. Need to go out with another winner."

When grandmother Joanne Gilberts won the lottery in 2007, scooping £1.1 million ($1.7 million) into her bank account, she decided to still return to her £6-an-hour job at a hospital laundry.

"I know it might seem strange to some people but I've been working at the hospital for 21 years, and it is a big part of my life. I just wanted to get back to normality," she told the BBC. "...I'm determined to keep my feet on the ground and just wanted to put my life back on an even keel after all the excitement."

In 60 years, Rupert Murdoch has transformed an Australian news agency into a sprawling global media empire, and racked up a net worth of $9.4 billion in the process. And at 81, he remains on the offensive, with the modest ambitions of conquering the web.

"So long as I can stay mentally alert;-- inquiring, curious -- I want to keep going," he told Esquire." I love my wife and my children, but I don't want to sit around at home with them. We go on safaris and things like that. I can do that for a couple of weeks a year. I'm just not ready to stop, to die."

Al Davis, the coach, general manager, and owner of the Oakland Raiders for 50 years, who's bullishness ultimately led to the creation of the Super Bowl, reportedly said in 2007, at the age of 78, that he wouldn't retire until his team won two more of the Vince Lombardis. Unfortunately, he died first. But his franchise's motto lives on: "Just win, baby!"

Investor of legend Warren tax-me-and-my-rich-friends Buffett, 82, the second richest man in American (with a net worth of around $46 billion) has no plans to retire as chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Even a prostate cancer diagnosis last year failed to trip up his resolve.

The reason is simple. As he said at the 25th anniversary dinner of the Economic Club in Washington: "I'm having the time of my life!"

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ycplum

Some people simply enjoy the problem solving aspect of their job. Personally, I would prefer to solve a different problem, like how to catch a bigger fish, squeeze abit more speed out of the wind on a sailboat, or how to get my girlfriend in the mood. Too each their own.

Earnings rich are still in the process of earning money to invest. Asset rich live off their assets. They may work if they wish, but they don't need to.

Take Warren Buffett - please!

He pays less taxes than his secretary, yet lives so much better than she. How? She works for a wage. Last report was he paid her $346,000 per year. (That's above the obama $250,000 millionaire cut-off), while he pays himself $200,000 (which is below the cut-off).

Under obama's new tax plan, her taxes will increase to 40% (earned income tax bracket). Buffett's, on the other hand, will only go to 20% (max capital gains rate).

She, and others in her situation, will never earn/save enough to be as rich as Buffett. Buffett, on the hand, will never see a decrease in his style of living because no matter how bad the market gets, he's not going to go broke.

What else can you do? I am old and have more money than I can ever spend. Working is my only pleasure in life. I am too old and lame to go on safari, go fishing in the pacific, travel in Europe. but what I can do is keeping going to my office. I enjoy it. I see my children like everyone else, but they have their own lives and live in other cities. \"Study, Study, Study\" said Lenin. \"Work, Work, Work\" said Ari Onasis. Both good pieces of advice.

It's always the same rhetoric from many posters that wealth equates greed and unhappiness. Sure there are some that broadcast that stereotype but for most it's about passion and challenge and accomplishment that drives someone to success. In many cases this success results in wealth from a thriving business or carrer. Wealth does not automattically breed unhapiness. Most wealthy people are sharing their good fortunes in many ways more than you will ever know, quietly and generously. There are many, many "millionaires next door" that lead unassuming lives but contribute positively in all sorts of ways within their communities.

Intesting that 5 millionaires are profiled for this story. That is the exact number of millionaires that I know. They all started out from humble beginnings andare now wildly wealthy. The one common thread between them all is that their singular goal in life was to be rich and focused on that goal daily. Not focused on hapiness or a fulfulled life, just acquiring wealth. The persuit of wealth was so grueling they were all left bitter, andgry and unhappy and utterly compelled to keep going at any cost. Without exception they're all bitter and miserable people. All 5 of them. Yes, anyone who puts their mind to it can be wealthy in America. The cost? Emotional security, happiness, love, compassion. It's one or the other. Emotionally secure, happy, loving and compassionate people will never attain vast wealth. Choose wisely.

A multitude of reasons, personal insecurity, they enjoy work to the extent its not work, they worry about the future, etc. That said, I retired in 1996 after a career in Marketing that I loved, and have never looked back, we live once, and I watched numerous friends, and co-workers die young, with the wealth to have retired young, and they all regretted not spending more time at home, with family, exploring subjects of interest. None died stating, they wished they had worked harder.

I worked for a self-made millionaire. It was a roofing company he owned. There is no type of construction training for a roofer. You must be a serious professional do do roof construction. I did drafting for this company.

It's funny that the reported highest level of "income inequality" corresponds to the highest ever number of people on the goverment dole. It's hard to get rich sitting on your ass waiting for your goverment check. Pretty soon they are going to direct deposit so the parasites don't even need to get off the couch.